Chapter 7: I remember
I remember how only yesterday I had discovered more about Brandon, more than I would've wanted to.
I remember how…
(Flashback)
"When were you planning on telling me this?" I ask through gritted teeth, "why now? Why today?" I say angrily through my tears, which were now falling freely down my cheeks. My mother does nothing but remain silent.
"What does this have to do with my marriage with Brandon?"
"Darling, Brandon's father, Leander, is going through some…financial problems. You see, Brandon's mother owned a company, very wealthy of course. When she died last year, the business was supposed to go to Brandon, he doesn't know that. His father kept the business and it is now going bankrupt.
"So by me marrying Brandon, we help Leander with his financial problems, he continues to run Brandon's business, he continues to lie to him…this is absolutely sick!"
"Now Stella! Your father and Leander have been friends for ages now, we owe him. He's done a lot for us and…"
"But mom, don't you see? That corporation belongs to Brandon! His mother left it for him, it means so much to him, he would be shattered if he knew his father took that away from him, let alone that its bankrupt!" I pause and take a breath.
"Stella, we had already arranged your marriage with Brandon long before this happened, long before Brandon's mother died, when you were children practically. You are not to tell Brandon about this! Do you hear me?"
"I can't lie mom, I…"
"Please Stella, think about what the truth would do to Brandon," she says, giving me a stern look. She then turns around and walking back to sit behind her desk. I can't do it, so I run down the hall of the palace to look for Brandon and tell him the truth but instead I find something else…
"Yes Chimera, you look beautiful, you do", I hear Brandon's sweet voice. I hear her giggle. Chimera…my second cousin…twice removed.
"Really? You're not just saying that?" she says sarcastically.
"No princess, you look great, lovelier than all the stars," he says, kissing her cheek. She giggles.
(End of Flashback)
And so I didn't tell Brandon the truth. I just couldn't. How do I tell my fiancée that his father is committing a crime by taking over the corporation that his mom left for him? And to top that off, he's trying to destroy the corporation, take it to pieces. Sigh, we're not even married yet and the secrets begin.
"Stella, hold still! Wedding ceremony starts in an hour and we've got to get you ready!" Musa says. Only one hour left.
"Stella you look so beautiful!" Bloom says. She's sitting in the chair next to me while the rest of the girls and some other ladies fix our hair and do our make up. Bloom is also getting married today to prince Sky of Eraklyon, The only difference…they're in love with each other, completely head over heels for one another. They make such a beautiful couple.
"You look beautiful too Bloom", I tell her and smile.
Both of our hairs are tied up in a beautiful, elegant bun. Her hair is completely tied up while mine has a few curls hanging down the sides of my face. We each have a beautiful crown of flowers on our head. Our cheeks have been are a very rosy color, but our dresses are different. Mine has no straps and is almost touches the ground. It has a bit of glitter all over it. Bloom's dress has very thin straps and also touches the floor. And it doesn't have glitter on it. However she does have a few bits of glitter on her temple and a little close to her eyes, making her look dazzling. But both dresses are so gorgeous, and we both look amazing.
"Stella?" I hear my mom as she enters the room. She begins to tear up; right behind her is my dad.
"Stella, my little girl, you look gorgeous",
"Yes you both look wonderful", says queen Miriam, Bloom's mother. We each hug our parents, the girls, and we hug each other before exiting the room. The wedding starts now.
The wedding melody played on the organ. Bloom held onto her father's arm, while I held on to mine's. We began to walk to the altar slowly, step by step. I could see Brandon and Sky standing in the front. Sky is smiling, not once do he or Bloom take their eyes off of each other. I turn my gaze to Brandon, who stands next to Sky, smiling slightly, almost apologetically. Before I realize it, we reach the altar. Bloom takes Sky's arm, and I have no choice but to take Brandon's. The ceremony went on, and my mind was off in space. I realized what was going on when Brandon carefully and slowly turns me around to face him, and Sky does the same to Bloom. Then the priest asked…
"Do you princess Bloom of Sparx take prince Sky to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do"
"Do you prince Sky of Eraklyon take princess Bloom to be you lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do",
The rings are handed to them and they each put the wedding ring on each other's ring finger. And now it's our turn. The priest asks the same question to Brandon. Brandon looks straight into my eyes and says
"I do"
"Do you princess Stella of Solaria take prince Brandon to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
I take a quiet breath before answering…
